Three Dania Officials Get Salary Increases

September 28, 2005|By Lori Sykes and Jeremy Milarsky Staff writers

DANIA BEACH — The city manager received an income boost on Tuesday, and two other city officials recently received raises as part of the city's budget. Officials said the raises bring salaries in line with counterparts in other cities.

Commissioners voted unanimously to raise the salaries of the city manager, city clerk and human resources director during Tuesday's commission meeting.

City Commissioner Bob Anton said the officials were underpaid for the work they do compared with those who do the same job in similarly sized cities.

"It's not really a raise, it's a market adjustment," Anton said. "We are trying to attract quality candidates and keep the ones we do have."

The City Commission passed its $33.2 million budget last week, freezing the property tax rate at $6.39 per $1,000 in taxable income. But because property values have gone up, the city expects to take in more money in the 2005-06 fiscal year.

Personnel costs account for about 40 percent of the new budget.

Approved Tuesday night: City Manager Ivan Pato's 14.5 percent raise. About $6,692 of it is a market adjustment, $3,443 from COLA, and $5,553 is a merit increase. He currently receives an annual salary of $107,619, plus a $700 monthly expense allowance, 15 vacation days, benefits and use of a city vehicle.

Last week, City Clerk Louise Stilson had $5,613 added to her $54,737 salary for 2005, and another $5,613 raise in 2006. The raise is about three times the amount of a normal cost-of-living adjustment.

Human Resources Director Mary McDonald, on top of her $85,361 salary, is getting the smallest bump, a 1.9 percent raise the first year and a 1.8 percent increase the second.

"These salaries are based on the market assessment of about 20 other cities," Vice Mayor Pat Flury said. "We don't want to be the highest- or lowest-paid city. We want to be somewhere in the middle."